The Masque of the Red Death

The mask of the reddened end Literary psychoanalysis A Look at Imagery We continue our literary analysis of The masquerade party of the Red goal by Edgar Allan Poe with a look at the graphic imagery in the piteous story. dissembleers slide 1 of 4 Imagery is the use of figurative or descriptive language to attain a lifelike mental picture. It involves at least one of the five sensessight, sound, touch, feel, taste. Imagery in The Masque of the Red Death is ghastly. slide 2 of 4 Example of Imagery Thither were sharp pains, and abrupt dizziness, and then profuse bleeding at the pores, with dissolution.The scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the salute of the victim, were the pest dismiss which shut him out from the sympathy of his fellow men. (145). Senses Sight, Touch Analysis Poe establishes the mood and setting of the story with the vivid description of the Red Death. The passage establishes the horror of the disorder and explains why the guests would react to the blood stained trespasser at the end of the story. slide 3 of 4 Imagery in the seventh RoomExample of Imagery The ordinal apartment was closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls, falling in heavy folds upon the carpet of the same material and hue (146). Senses Sight, Touch Analysis The oppressiveness of the 7th room contrasts the gaiety of the previous six. The darkness of the room and the heaviness and darkness of the curtain symbolizes expiration. No inquire none of the guests wish to come near it. Note the pun on shroud. Example of Imagery The panes here were scarleta deep color.In the corridors that followed the suite, on that point stood, opposite to each window, a heavy tripod, armorial bearing a brazier of fire, that projected its rays through the tinted methamphetamine hydrochloride and so glaringly illuminated the room. And thus were produced a multitude of gaudy and fantastic appearances The eff ect of the fire perch that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood tinted panes was ghastly in the native (146-7) Senses Sight Analysis So much for peaceful death. The images micturated by the brazier of fire and blood tinted glass give the room of death a ghastly appearance.The gaudy and fantastic appearances, the blood tinted panes, and the fire create an image of hell, hinting that perhaps the guests and the Prince fear not just the Red Death, but their eternal fate. slide 4 of 4 more(prenominal) Examples Example of Imagery Its pendulum swung to and fro with a heavy unglamorous clang there came from the impudent lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly musical (147). Senses Sound Analysis No wonder the musicians stopped when this clock struck.Poe uses personificationbrazen lungsto emphasize the deepness of the heavy monotonous clang, a clang that serves as an hourly reminder to the guests that death is approaching. Example of Imagery The figure was elevated and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habilments of the grave His vesture was dabed in blood and his broad brow, with all the features of the face was besprinkled with the scarlet horror. (149). Senses Sight Death The personified Red Death strikes fear and anger in the hearts of Prospero and his guests.Once the Red Death appears, it never leaves. Symbolism in The Masque of the Red Death Why are there seven live in The Masque of the Red Death? Learn all that and more with this study to symbolism. latest slide 1 of 6 Edgar Allan Poes The Masque of the Red Death should be studied at many levels (1) the literal level the literal level is a study of the events that actually take localize in the story (2) an allegorical level an allegory is a story in which the objects, characters, and events are emblematical of something grander in scale.In order to understand the story allegorically, one learns a firm understanding of symbols in The Masque of the Red Death. slide 2 of 6 Symbols Analysis The Red Death symbolizes the inevitability of death. Although there is no specific disease with the exact symptoms described in the story, critics believe the diseases description has elements of tuberculosis, a disease which killed many of those close to Poe. It also brings forth memories of the Black Death which depopulated much of Europe during the oculus Ages.The Castle represents mans efforts to prevent death. Regardless of wealth, social position, or popularity, death arrives as an uninvited guest. Prince Prospero symbolizes the end of feudalism. Prosperos inviting unless wealthy knights and ladies to his castle at the expense of peasants and commoners represents the socioeconomic divide between landowners and peasants that existed during the feudalistic period. It is not coincidental that the Black Death, which reduced the number of histrions, led to a demand for labor and played an important design in endi ng feudalism in Europe.The Ebony Clock is a constant reminder of death and symbolizes the inevitability of it. The revelers could neither stop its pendulum from swinging nor could they prevent its ominous tones from dampering their enthusiasm. The Seven Rooms represent the stages of life. More on this later. The Masqueraders symbolize all humans and gives creedence to the interpretation that the seven rooms represent the seven ages of man (covered further in the next section). slide 3 of 6 Color Symbolism Colors play an important role in this storyRed The most obvious color symbolism in The Masque of the Red Death is in its title. Red symbolizes death and blood. The gruesome description of the Red Death gives the color a ghastly connotation, especially in light of the red window panes contained in the death room at the far western end of the imperial suite. Black/Ebony The seventh room was closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the wa lls, falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material and hue (146).This seventh room contains no light of any kind and represents the darkness of death. In this room stands the ebony clock. Upon hearing its chimes the guests were reminded of death the giddiest grew pale, and the more venerable and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused reverie or meditation (147). glowering/Purple/Green/Orange/White/Violet These are the colors of the first six rooms in the imperial suite. I will address them together insomuch that they represent a prism and therefore reflect a progression, lending creedence to the interpretation that the story is an allegory for life.This interpretation, however, is complicated by the detail that the color of Prosperos room do not occur in the same sequence as they do in a prism, possibly reflective of Prosperos twisted sense of fairness or an attempt by the author to associate particular colors with a specific period in life. O thers interpret the 7 rooms in The Masque of the Red Death as a symbol of Prosperos indulgence in the seven deadly sins 1. Pride/Vanity Pride is the excessive belief in ones own abilities, exchangeable to vanity, which is setting ones heart on things of little value.Prosperos belief that he is more powerful than death is a vivid demonstration of pride. 2. Envy It is unclear who the Prince might envy, but he sure is trying straining to impress someone. 3. Gluttony Gluttony is the act of consuming more than one is required. Instead of using his message to protect more people, something he is obligated to do as prince, he lavishes his guests with ample provisions and the appliances of pleasure. 4. proclivity Lust is an excessive craving for the pleasures of the body, usually associated with sex. The era in which Poe wrote prohibited he explicit or implicit description of sex, but what do you intend was going on at an anything goes party? 5. crossness The Prince becomes angr y with the uninvited guest and attacks it. 6. Greed Although it is apparent Prince Prospero shares his wealth with a thousand guests, he helps those who need it least and withholds his substance from those in need. 7. Sloth Sloth is the absence of work. The prince seems like a hard worker his work, however, is on the physical realm not the spiritual realm. slide 6 of 6 What do you think they mean? If you have an alternate interpretation, let me know in the comments.